Hema Kini

Fine Needle Aspiration Diagnosis in HIV-Related Lymphadenopathy in Mangalore, India

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of fine needle aspiration (FNA) study of lymph nodes in HIV-positive patients. STUDY DESIGN The study was conducted at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India. Samples from lymph nodes of 48 HIV-positive patients were taken and air dried, and wet smears were made. After staining with routine cytologic stains and special stains, detailed cytomorphologic study was conducted. RESULTS Tuberculosis accounted for nearly half (48%) the cases,followed by HIV lymphadenitis (36%), lymphoma (10%), suppurative lymphadenitis (2%), Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare lymphadenitis (2%) and metastases (2%), in descending order of their frequency. A suppurative picture, which was found in 13% of cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis in AIDS patients, occasionally was misleading without the help of acid fast bacilli stain. CONCLUSION FNA is a useful tool in the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy in HIV-positive patients provided that proper safety measures are taken to avoid contracting the infection.

Apocrine (cutaneous) sweat gland carcinoma of axilla with signet ring cells: A diagnostic dilemma on fine-needle aspiration cytology

Carcinoma arising in the apocrine sweat glands is rare and there are few reports describing the cytological features of this neoplasm. We describe the cytological features of a histologically confirmed apocrine carcinoma occurring in a 55‐year‐old man who presented with an ulcerated mass in the right axilla. Fine‐needle aspiration cytology revealed features of a signet ring adenocarcinoma. The significance of this infrequently encountered neoplasm lies in its potential for diagnostic confusion with more common lesions containing signet ring cells. In an axillary mass lesion, cytological features along with clinical correlation are essential to distinguish primary apocrine carcinoma from mammary neoplasms with signet ring cells and other metastatic adenocarcinomas. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:739–741.

Bone marrow biopsy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A morphological study

CONTEXT Bone marrow (BM) biopsy is an integral part of staging work-up for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). AIMS To study the characteristics of BM involvement in NHL with respect to incidence, histologic pattern and morphology of infiltration and its discordance with the histology of primary anatomic site. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Forty-nine cases of NHL in which BM biopsy was performed for staging were included in this study, the primary site being classified according to the WHO classification for NHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective study of 49 cases was conducted. Bilateral BM biopsy was obtained from the posterior superior iliac spine. The biopsies were fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution and decalcified using 10% formal - formic acid for 4 - 6 h followed by routine processing. The serial sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin and reticulin stains. RESULTS BM biopsy showed involvement by lymphoma in 27 cases (55.10%). Unilateral positivity was found in four cases (14.81% cases). The overall incidence of marrow involvement by NHL was 55.1%. The incidence of involvement was higher in T-cell lymphomas when compared with B-cell lymphomas and predominant pattern of involvement was mixed. Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas had the lowest incidence in all the B-cell lymphomas. A discordant histology between BM and primary anatomic site was found in 29.63% (8/27) of the cases, where it was seen more in follicular lymphomas and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. CONCLUSIONS Critical examination of BM biopsies can increase the diagnostic accuracy, thereby contributing to the prognosis and appropriate treatment modalities.

Giant hanging melanoma of the eyelid skin

Cutaneous melanoma of the eyelid is a rare entity. We present a 53-year-old male who had a nevus on the left upper eyelid skin since childhood, which transformed into a huge ulcerated hanging mass in the same region. Excision of the mass was done and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of nodular malignant melanoma. A small preauricular lymph node showed metastatic melanoma on fine needle aspiration cytology.

Effect of sildenafil-induced nitric oxide on the histomorphology of cardiomyocytes in male rats

Introduction: Although sildenafil citrate, one of the selective phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, is considered the best treatment for erectile dysfunction, studies have shown that it has also a beneficial effect on a variety of cardiovascular conditions. In spite of reports of a significant protective effect of sildenafil against necrosis in intact hearts, there are also contradictory reports regarding its beneficial effect on the heart. Since there are not enough reports regarding the histomorphological changes in the cardiomyocytes after exposure to sildenafil citrate, the present study was conducted to observe the same along with other biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were used in the present study. The animals were divided into a control group and two experimental groups containing six rats each. The animals were treated with a solution of sildenafil citrate dissolved in distilled water. Histomorphological changes were observed by light microscopy and the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and PDE in the heart were measured by spectrophotometry. Results: It was observed that animals treated with sildenafil citrate showed a highly significant increase in NO and a decrease in PDE level, but the histological architecture of the cardiomyocytes did not show much change other than a slightly elongated and swollen nucleus. Conclusions: This study shows that sildenafil citrate at low dosage is well tolerated by cardiac muscle cells, but as dosage increases, it may become detrimental through its NO and PDE activity.

Poorly differentiated (insular) thyroid carcinoma arising in a long-standing colloid goitre: A cytological dilemma.

Poorly differentiated (insular) thyroid carcinoma (PDITC) is an uncommon thyroglobulin producing neoplasm intermediate in aggressiveness between well-differentiated carcinomas of follicular cell origin and undifferentiated anaplastic carcinoma. Its cytomorphological recognition is essential for planning surgery and subsequent management as it is known for its aggressive behavior, advanced stage at presentation, local recurrences and rapid dissemination. We report a case of PDITC arising in a long-standing goiter, in which presence of microfollicular structures and minimal necrosis resulted in difficulty in distinguishing it from a follicular neoplasm of thyroid.

Impact of an increase in grading categories and double reporting on the reliability of breast cancer grade.

The present study illustrates the effect of using the consolidated total score (obtained on a 7‐point scale by adding the tubular, nuclear and mitotic scores) as well as double reporting on the interobserver reliability of breast cancer grading by the Nottingham method. 50 consecutive breast cancer slides were graded independently by 5 pathologists. The interobserver reliability between the individual pathologists for final grade, total score and grade components was estimated by quadratic weighted kappa (kw). Similarly, the inter‐observer reliability of double reported scores (obtained by averaging the reported scores of two independent pathologists) for independent observer pairs was estimated. The total scores gave higher reliability figures than the final grade both for individual pathologists and double reported scores. The double reported total scores and grade also gave significantly higher reliability figures than the individual scores and grade (average kw=0.65 and 0.78 for the individual and double reported total scores, respectively; 0.61 and 0.66 for the individual and double reported grades).Therefore, use of total scores in addition to grade as well as double reporting of the same significantly increases the interobserver reliability of breast cancer grading.

Study of the reproducibility of the 2004 World Health Organization classification of urothelial neoplasms.

The aim of the study was to evaluate urinary bladder biopsies showing papillary urothelial neoplastic lesions based on the 2004 WHO/ISUP classification of Urothelial Neoplasms of the Urinary Bladder, to assess the reproducibility of the bladder carcinoma grade. Fifty consecutive transurethral tumor resection biopsies were evaluated by four pathologists independently. The final diagnoses of each pathologist were subjected to statistical analysis to assess the degree of interobserver variability and reproducibility of this classification. Significant interobserver variation was found in the reporting of urothelial neoplasms. In 22 instances there was difference in opinion between PUNLMP and low-grade carcinoma, and in 59 instances between low and high grade carcinoma. The 4 observers never unanimously agreed on the diagnosis of PUNLMP.

HIV lymphadenitis of the salivary gland: A case with cytological and histological correlation

Human immunodeficiency virus infection associated lymphadenitis of the salivary glands (HIVLSG) and benign lymphoepithelial cysts are described as early events in HIV patients. The diagnosis is not usually made clinically as it mimics a salivary gland tumor. We present here a patient with two painless nodules in the right parotid and submandibular glands. The cytological diagnosis was florid reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. Histopathology revealed features of HIVLSG with multiple, small, cystic, benign lymphoepithelial lesions.

Morphological evaluation of cystitis glandularis.

Cystitis cystica and cystitis glandularis (CG) are relatively common appearances in the urinary bladder though CG may occasionally mimic a neoplasm. Microscopically, two types of CG are recognized, the usual type and intestinal type. This study was undertaken to study the morphology of CG and to highlight the differences in morphology between CG and adenocarcinoma. Eleven cases of CG were seen, of which 3 cases showed predominantly CG, usual type and eight cases showed CG of intestinal type. One case of primary adenocarcinoma was included in this study, where the adjacent bladder mucosa showed CG. Evaluation of the histological features of CG, especially intestinal type helps in correct categorization of this lesion and differentiation from adenocarcinoma of the bladder.